TODAY - November 17

 

NIELS’ MORNING GREETINGS

ON: NOVEMBER 17

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Belgium 7 hours and 37 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 8 hours and 52 minutes – from 08.02 to 16.54.

See more – also in English – about where you are on:  www.dagenslaengde.dk

TODAY’s NAME:

Today is called ANIANUS’ DAY.  He was a bishop in Orléans in France. He came from a noble family and lived quietly and devoted to his religion all his life. He died in the year 453. And the legend tells that many miracles happened at his grave later on.

The day’s name in Belgium is SAINTE ELIZABETH DE HONGRIE.  She was a Hungarian princess, who was married to a German count from Thüringen.  She devoted her short life to the Catholic church.  She lived in the years 1207-31.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1903: Russia’s social-democratic party is splitting into two parties, the bolcheviks and the mencheviks.

 

TODAY’s QUESTION:

Flying Dutchman -  what is that? And what is the story behind it?

The origin of this expression is a legend from the 16th century. It tells about a Dutch merchant ship, which constantly sails over the oceans and never goes into any port. It is in particular seen in the seas around Cape of the Good Hope in South Africa.  Seeing this ship gives other ships a warning that an accident is coming up.   The legend also tells that the ship is there as God’s punishment of the Dutch captain Vanderdecken for blasphemy.

The topic has often been treated in literature and other forms of art, including in Richard Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman.

Today we would rather talk about a so-called ghost ship. This is a ship which is sailing without any crew. Such ships exist. It is, though, not dangerous just to see them. It only becomes a real problem, if you run into them. And fortunately this happens very rarely.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Marianne - she is a symbol for which country? Why?

THE EUROPEAN QUESTION FOR TODAY:

 

47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

 Decorations you give to idiots!

             This was said by the Danish poet and rebel P.A.Heiberg.   He was later forced

              To to France by the autocratic king.

2.  Today’s quote:

        Normally you have a good relationship to women before the wedding - and

             after the divorce. It's the time in between, which is difficult.

             Who among today's persons has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

9:        Vespasian  ( died 79 )

1759:  Louis XVIII  ( died 1824 )

1887:  Bernard Montgomery  ( died 1976 )

1925:  Rock Hudson  ( died 1985 )

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

1796:  Empress Catherine II ( 67 years )

1917:  Auguste Rodin  ( 77 years )

2006:  Ferenc Puskas  ( 83 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

www.simplesite.com/kimbrer   +  EUROPE-AT-WORK   www.europe-at-work.be

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